Dr. Mona M. Johnson recently joined the Olympic Educational Service District 114 Team as the Executive Director of Teaching & Learning System Pathways at Olympic ESD 114. Most recently she worked in the South Kitsap School District as Executive Director of Wellness & Support and at the WA State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction where she managed a wide variety of programs and professionals focused on ensuring that students and staff district-wide are healthy, safe, engaged, and supported in their pursuit of social emotional wellness and academic success. Prior to this, Mona also served as Chief of School Behavioral Health at the U.S. Army Medical Command Child where she had overall responsibility for the development of international School Behavioral Health Center programs on Army Installations in the U.S and Europe.
Mona presents, publishes, and consults at the local, state, and national levels in the areas of professional wellness, social emotional resilience, and trauma recovery. Most recently she published the article Self-Care is Not Enough! in the summer 2022 edition of Educational Leadership Journal. Past authored and co-authored publications include Self-Care: The Antidote to Compassion Fatigue in the Educational Leadership Journal (2020); The Heart of Learning and Teaching: Compassion, Resiliency and Academic Success (2009); Compassion Fatigue Training for Educators (2012); and How the Traumatic Experiences of Students Manifest in School Settings (Rossen & Hull, Editors, 2010 & 2013). Mona received the 2019 Touching Trauma at Its Heart Educator Award from the National Attachment and Trauma Network. Past awards include Champion for Children from the National Association of Children of Alcoholics and the Advocate of the Year Award from Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.
Mona has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington and a Washington State Superintendent credential. Her masters and undergraduate degrees are in Social Sciences and Social Work. Mona lives in Gig Harbor, WA, with her amazing husband, Dan, and two over-indulged rescue cats named Emme and Elle.